Ethylene dichloride (EDC)

Description

1. Product Overview
Ethylene dichloride (EDC), also known as 1,2-dichloroethane, is a chlorinated hydrocarbon and the primary intermediate in vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production, which is the precursor to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Its key value proposition is high thermal stability and low byproduct formation during cracking, directly improving VCM yield and reducing purification costs. Strategically, EDC is critical to the global PVC value chain, with demand tightly linked to construction, automotive, and piping industries.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: 1,2-dichloroethane (C₂H₄Cl₂)

• Purity level: ≥ 99.8% (industrial grade); low water & iron content (< 5 ppm H₂O, < 1 ppm Fe)

• Physical characteristics: Clear, colorless, heavy liquid; sweet chloroform-like odor; density 1.253 g/cm³ at 20°C; boiling point 83.5°C

• Packaging options: Bulk ISO tank containers, road tankers, 20 MT flexitanks, or 250 kg steel drums

• Shelf life: 24 months in sealed, dry, corrosion-proof containers; avoid moisture and elevated temperatures

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Primary industries: PVC manufacturing (via VCM), chlorinated solvents production, chemical intermediates, and pharmaceutical synthesis

• Operational use cases:

  • Cracking to VCM in oxychlorination or direct chlorination units

  • As a lead scavenger in antiknock formulations (phased out, but legacy systems exist)

  • Solvent for adhesives, paints, and degreasing in closed-loop systems

• Performance advantage: Higher thermal stability reduces coke formation in cracking furnaces, extending run lengths by 15–20% versus standard-grade EDC; lower water content prevents hydrolysis and HCl corrosion in downstream equipment

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: Batch-to-batch purity controlled via gas chromatography and colorimeter testing; certified to ASTM E702-88 standards

• Supply reliability: Dedicated ethylene and chlorine feedstocks from integrated petrochemical complexes; 99.6% order fulfillment rate over 24 months

• Logistics: Multimodal shipping (road, rail, ISO tank, vessel) from three regional hubs – Rotterdam, Houston, and Singapore

• Cost competitiveness: Direct-from-plant pricing removing 2–3 intermediary margins; volume-based tiered discounts

• Sustainability: Returnable ISO tank program reduces drum waste; CO₂ offset documentation available on request

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): 20 metric tons (MT) bulk

• Loading capacity per 20FT ISO tank container: 20–22 MT (maximum fill 95% by volume due to thermal expansion)

• Lead time: 10–14 days for bulk ISO tank; 21 days for drummed/flexitank orders